Sunday, July 31, 2016

When visiting Asheville, North Carolina, about 4 hours from Raleigh, our favorite hotel is right in town. We can leave the car in the parking lot and walk to many interesting places, only having to drive if visiting Biltmore Estate and Village, or up a hillside to the fabulous historic Grove Park Inn, where we can enjoy a drink on the terrace with breathtaking views across the city toward the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This week we looked down from our window and directly below us found

the historic Thomas Wolfe House, home of the American novelist. I told you more

Thursday, July 21, 2016

. . . . . . . is the name of the wonderful cook book written by Marie Simmons you can see here. It was a gift to me a few years ago from dear blog friend Sara in Southern California, when she noticed I was growing two fig trees from tiny plants purchased in pots from the Home Depot.

Both of my little potted figs, a Brown Turkey and a Celeste, are now gigantic trees 12-14 feet tall - they will require a major pruning come Autumn. Sara I hope you are reading this.

The past couple of Summers I've had great fig harvests, especially from the Celeste, and this year the Brown Turkey is also doing well. Yesterday my official fig picker, dear Bob, rapped on the screen door with the news of "lots of figs are ready - hand me a bowl."

After half an hour he returned with a large bowl overflowing with ripe figs, these

are just a few of them! Tomorrow I will share them with a friend when we meet early

for coffee and a chat before the oppressive heat sets in.

The last couple of years I made a lot of fig jam, usually in August when the

harvest was at its peak, and much of it was bestowed on anyone who

arrived at the front door. This year I hope to make more later.

Meanwhile, because we'll be away for a few days next week, I'm using these early

figs in my morning Greek yogurt with a drizzle of wildflower honey, in a fig clafoutis,

and for Saturday night supper, my favorite savory using figs, salmon and

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

I first shared the cover of this book with you last month, along with others I am reading this hot, humid and unusually wet Summer in the southeast. Last Saturday evening, into the late night hours, we had a tremendous storm which dumped 4 inches of non-stop drenching rain on the city of Raleigh and surrounding areas. I can honestly say I don't remember getting that much rain in just a few hours ever. Fearful the cottage would float away, there was nothing we could do but watch much of the back garden relocate to the front, a moat form, and a river rush down the driveway turning the cul-de-sac into a lake. We are now way over the average rainfall for the year, with oppressive days close to 100F and extreme humidity. Where can I move to? A safe place with perfect weather doesn't appear to exist!Anyway, back to the book which is helping to keep me sane these days. I seem to always have two or three books on the go at the same time - but this particular beauty I'm finding hard to put aside even with other exciting ones waiting in the wings. It's somewhat difficult for me to describe Meadowland. If you, unlike me, didn't grow up in England and spend much of your childhood playtime in the countryside, in all honesty this book may not be your cup of tea. Unless of course, you, like me, love rolling country fields, farmland, animals both domestic and wild, sweet birds and their songs, and everything growing underfoot, in hedgerows, woodlands, along river banks etc. John Lewis-Stempel's eye for detail and the poetic imagery of his sentences are brilliant as he charts a year in the life of a field on his farm located on the Herefordshire/Welsh border. Meadowland is somewhat folksy and funny at times, but books have been written about entire countries that contain less interesting facts about flora and fauna in just one English meadow. I learned so many interesting new facts about so many creatures. When it comes to grass, now knowing more about the amazing stuff going on beneath it, a whole new world, I decided perhaps we should stop mowing because, as Lewis-Stempel says, "a lawn is a meadow in captivity."Are you enjoying a good book during these hot Summer days?

I have a few clumps of sweet fresh daisies in the garden. I always recall this old Edwardian era English song when I see them. I recall happy times when my grandmother Olive sang this song to me.

Oh the simplicity of life years ago compared to today. Songs such as this one bring back lovely memories of days gone by. Of course there have always been problems worldwide, no need to go into details here. Eventually, over weeks and months, news surfaced in the many newspapers, from crackling radios, and on small black and white television screens. Nowadays, due to modern technology, we learn of them every single day. We are instantly informed as horrific happenings occur, all the details shown in full color and close up.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR is a fresh version of my former three year blog ACROSS THE POND which can still be accessed by clicking on the title above.I'm a transplanted Brit enjoying life in North Carolina.

Fifty five years of journeying back and forth across the wide Atlantic Ocean have kept me busy…….and made my life very interesting! Although I've now visited all seven continents, I continue to travel and look forward to sharing new places around the world.I love taking photos! All images are my own unless noted otherwise. Please do not use my photos without a request. I enjoy sharing and will usually say OK!

Malaysia 2012

Singapore 2012

Hawaii 2012

Hoi An 2011

Vietnam 2011

Chiang Mai 2011

Bangkok 2011

TASMANIA 2011

Australia Nov. 2011

Expedition Cruising 2011

M/V Orion

Sub-Antarctic 2011

King Penguins

My African Safari...May 2010

The Lion

Africa 2010

The Leopard

Africa 2010

Remembering Africa - 2010

Lassen National Park, California

Thanks so much for reading along this far……if you've enjoyed my tales and photos and would like to see more, click on the Older Posts button, or the photo thumbnails above to take you back…there are awesome countries and exciting adventures. If you love to decorate your personal space, dig and delve in your garden, and turn out tasty morsels from your kitchen..........you're at the right place!